My 19 month old daughter (who no doubt thinks she's as big and capable as our 3 and 4.5 year olds) began climbing out of her crib at 17.5 months. We tried putting her back in it many times over the course of a week or so, but then worried that we were putting her in harm's way allowing her to continually jump out of her crib. I did some minor research on crib tents, but saw lots of safety concerns so opted to try a big girl bed. Surprisingly, the first week or so wasn't too bad. But for the past month it's been awful. She comes out over and over and over again, so my husband and I have gotten into the bad habit of having one of us sit in her room for up to 1.5 hrs a night until she finally falls asleep. We understand tha this is setting a bad precedent and also keeping us from other activities. This becomes even more stressful because of the young age of our other 2 children.
I'm considering trying the method where you bring the child back to their bed over and over again without a word or a look. I've heard that within days this can take the fun out of it for the kid so they just stay put. However, I'm not sure if this will be effective on a 19 month old or if she's too young to understand. Has anyone else had similar experiences and hopefully any helpful tips?
Put up a gate. Do not lock her in her room.
She may fall asleep on the floor. So be it. Then just put her in bed. Hour and a half of sitting with her? That is crazy. Put her to bed and put gate up. She will figure it out
Ditto Turnip.
And if you don't already have them, I'd recommend getting bed rails and putting them on. It feels more confining (they pretty much feel like they have to crawl to the foot of the bed to get out) and also gives them the comfort of smaller space (like cribs do). They are a snap to fold down during the daytime, or to change the sheets. And it solves the worry of your kiddo rolling off the bed (which can happen for awhile yet).
I feel for you, because my 19 month old started climbing out this week and I so don't want to deal with it. The crib tent I borrowed didnt fit. My son climbed out at age 2 and was like your little one. We tried one of those door knob covers, but he could get them off. Tried a gate on his door but he could push it down or climb over it. I called our ped in tears because he wouldn't sleep in the bed and kept coming out. What she told me is not popular among some, but worked well for us. She said to either turn the lock around so it locks from the outside or put a latch on ( we latched it) and wherever he slept is where he slept. He cried for an hour the first night, 5 min the second and then was fine. He insisted on sleeping in front of the door on the floor until he was 4 1/2. Some will say it is a fire hazard to lock them in- but can they really get out if they are in their cribs or if a child cover is on the knob? At least u know where they are. Good luck and let me know what works-I will be dealing with this again very soon.
Yeah if you stop giving them what they want they stop getting up.
Swear they play on your need to cuddle but like you it grew old quickly. I only had one that didn't respond quickly to the take them back, take them back, take them back. Within a couple weeks they were going to bed and staying there.
Oh, and mine pretty much got out of their cribs around a year, maybe less, freaking little monkeys!!
You need to put up a gate so she'll stay in her room. If she can't get out she'll cry a bit but she'll also get the idea that she needs to stay in there. We had the gate up during the day too. This way the grand kids kept their toys in their room and not all over the house. Not that we left them in there all day but it was to set a routine so they'd know it meant business.
In child care the kids that turn one have to be on cots by 10 1/2 months instead of a baby bed so they'll be ready to move up on their birthday. So we work with them and train them to stay on the cot. We sit by them and they go to sleep. It works. They will eventually go to sleep on their own.
All my grand kids were in toddler beds by the time they were 18 months. I put them in shortly after they moved up to my toddler room.
Baby gates in her door. Make sure their is nothing she can get hurt on and lay her down then leave. We tried the putting back thing on my oldest and well she still comes to bed with us EVERY night. She sleep walks to our room. Try the gates and see if it helps even if you go two high
